Sensory Processing Challenges in Kids: What Parents Need to Know

Dr. Karolyn adjusting small child

When Everyday Life Feels Overwhelming

Does this sound familiar? Your child melts down at birthday parties while other kids are laughing and having fun. A tag in their shirt sends them spiraling. The sound of the vacuum cleaner feels like a fire alarm. And every day, you feel like you’re walking on eggshells, trying to prevent the next sensory explosion.

Many parents have been told, “It’s just a phase. They’ll grow out of it.” But deep down, you know it’s more than that. Some days you wonder if you’re doing something wrong or if other parents think you’re making excuses for bad behavior.

Here’s the truth: it’s not bad behavior. It’s not bad parenting. And it’s definitely not your child’s fault. Their nervous system is experiencing the world completely differently.

A Story of Hope: Meet Maria

At His Work My Hands Chiropractic in Greenacres, Florida, we see this every day. One of our little patients, Maria, struggled with constant meltdowns. New places and new people would send her into complete overwhelm, leaving her parents feeling hopeless and exhausted.

But after starting neurologically-focused chiropractic care, something amazing happened. Maria went from screaming when anyone greeted her to smiling and happily saying hello. Her sleep improved. Her speech blossomed. The little girl who had been trapped in sensory overload finally found freedom.

Maria’s story isn’t unique — it’s proof that kids don’t have to stay stuck in sensory struggles.

The Truth About Sensory Processing Disorder

So, what’s really happening inside a child’s body when they experience sensory overload?

1. Sensory Processing Is a Nervous System Challenge, Not a Behavior Problem

Think of your child’s nervous system like an air traffic controller, trying to manage thousands of flights at once. When it’s overloaded, everyday sights, sounds, and touches feel like chaos.

This impacts all seven senses:

• Auditory (sounds)

• Visual (lights)

• Olfactory (smells)

• Gustatory (taste/texture)

• Tactile (touch)

• Vestibular (balance)

• Proprioception (body awareness in space)

Out of all these, proprioception is one of the most important for brain development, yet it’s often overlooked.

2. Different Sensory Patterns Show How the Nervous System Is Stuck

• Hypersensitive kids: Overreact to normal input. They cover their ears, rip off tags, or melt down in crowds. Their nervous system is stuck in overdrive.

• Hyposensitive kids: Crave intense input. They crash into things, constantly touch, and seek stimulation just to feel regulated.

• Many kids swing between both extremes, showing us a nervous system that’s struggling to self-regulate.

3. The “Perfect Storm” That Creates Sensory Challenges

Sensory struggles don’t just appear out of nowhere. They often develop through what we call the “Perfect Storm” — a buildup of stressors that begin early in life:

• Prenatal stress

• Birth trauma or interventions

• Early challenges like colic, reflux, or constipation

• Frequent antibiotics or illnesses

Each layer of stress adds tension to the nervous system until it gets locked into fight-or-flight mode. This leads to dysautonomia — when the nervous system literally can’t return to a calm, regulated state.

4. Why Traditional Therapies Sometimes Plateau

Occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy are incredibly valuable. But when the nervous system is still stuck in stress mode, progress can stall. It’s like trying to remodel a house built on a cracked foundation.

You can’t teach coping strategies to a nervous system that’s neurologically stuck. Until the root cause is addressed, many kids continue to struggle, leaving parents feeling frustrated.

Why Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care Helps

Here at His Work My Hands Chiropractic in Greenacres, we focus on the neurological root cause of sensory struggles. By using advanced technology to assess how a child’s nervous system is functioning, we can identify where it’s stuck in stress and help restore balance.

When tension is released from the nervous system, kids can finally:

• Process their world without constant overwhelm

• Sleep more soundly

• Improve focus and behavior

• Thrive in school, social settings, and at home

Parents often tell us, “It’s like we finally got our child back.”

You Don’t Have to “Wait and See”

If your child is struggling with sensory overload, meltdowns, or sensory processing disorder, you don’t have to accept “wait and see” as your only option. And you don’t need another label that doesn’t provide real solutions.

What your child needs is help getting unstuck — and that starts with addressing the nervous system.

I’m Dr. Karolyn with His Work My Hands Chiropractic in Greenacres, Florida. If this sounds like your child, we would love to help. Call our office at 561-517-8445 or click the link to schedule a neurological evaluation today.

Let’s help your child experience the world with joy instead of overwhelm.